Hairstyling device and method

ABSTRACT

A device and method for precision cutting of hair by combing and locking of hair into position for cutting is disclosed. The device comprises two comb members arranged such that two handed operation of hairstyling functions such as sectioning, detangling or combing may be performed in a first configuration and, in a second configuration, one handed operation may be utilized for locking and for cutting, clipping or trimming, without the necessity of constant comb and finger manipulation and movement.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to devices and methods for hairstyling techniques and more particularly to hairstyling techniques utilizing combs for untangling, sectioning and locking portions of hair.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various devices have been utilized to define a particular portion of hair on a person's head for selective cutting, clipping or trimming. These devices range from the simple bowl used to give children haircuts and similar full head cutting guides such as in U.S. Pat. No. 1,182,242; to devices such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 1,132,699, of a hand operated hair clamp with a spring action, to which a comb is affixed. A standoff guide as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 1,359,343 keeps a comb at an adjustable distance from the head for selective length cutting.

Other devices, with a comb being combined with a second element, include those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,051,415 and 1,462,167, in which combs are placed in hinged combination with hair straightening elements. U.S. Pat. No. 2,154,120 discloses a rat-tail comb with the “rat-tail” being hinged to the comb section and functioning as a sheath for the comb and as a curling device. In U.S. Pat. No. 681,740 a comb is integrated back to back with a scissor in order to eliminate the necessity of switching between the devices. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,012,830 a comb and sectioning bar are hinged together for one-handed operation.

Notwithstanding the existence of the aforementioned device, the “comb and finger technique” remains the current widespread practice of hairstylists and barbers for untangling, sectioning and locking portions of hair prior to cutting. This technique involves the use of a comb and two fingers. For example, in selectively cutting hair, it is common practice to first comb a section of hair on a person's head with a comb and then to grasp the combed section between adjacent fingers of one hand. Thereafter, a scissor or clipper, held with the other hand, is used to cut the selected section of hair. This method is awkward since it requires constant comb and finger manipulation and movement. In addition, fingers are not ideal clamps and hair held between them tends to slip. Finally, the combination of comb and fingers may only permit thin and short sections of hair to be precisely cut.

A need exists for a device and method for rapid precision cutting of hair, by a user such as a hairstylist or barber, with rapid sequential steps of sectioning, combing and locking of hair for facilitated cutting or clipping. The device should be readily manually manipulatable and provide for ease in sectioning layers of hair for more precise hair cutting. In particular, a need exists to enhance, simplify and render more efficient the classic use of the comb and fingers to untangle, section and lock into position portions of hair.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device and method for precision cutting of hair on a person's head. In one embodiment the method comprises the steps of: sectioning a layer of hair by separating and lifting it away from the head; combing the sectioned layer of hair with first and second comb members; locking the sectioned layer of hair at a selected cutting length by combining the first and second comb members into an interlocked unit; and cutting the layer of hair at the selected cutting length. The first and second comb members are independently manipulatable in a first configuration and the interlocked unit is manipulatable with one hand without position re-orientation of the unit in the hand to effect the cutting. In one embodiment, the layer of hair extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the head for facilitated cutting, when it is locked into position. In another embodiment, the interlocked unit may be positioned at an angle with respect to the layer of hair and the hair may be cut at an angle to accommodate different haircut shapes.

The present invention also relates to a hairstyling device, comprising first and second comb members. The first and second comb members are positionable in a first configuration and a second configuration. In the first configuration the first and second comb members are separate and independently manipulatable for sectioning and combing of the hair. In the second configuration the first and second comb members are connected to lock a portion of the hair in place. In the second configuration the connected comb members are manipulatable with one hand without position re-orientation of the hairstyling device in the hand. In one embodiment, in the second configuration, the connected comb members are manipulatable to pull and lock a portion of the hair in place.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be more readily understood with reference to the embodiments thereof illustrated in the attached figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is a lateral view of one embodiment of a comb constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the comb of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a lateral view of one embodiment of a comb combination constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an end view of the embodiment of FIG. 3; and

FIGS. 5-8 are views of steps of one embodiment of a method according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description of the invention is not intended to be illustrative of all embodiments. In describing embodiments of the present invention, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected. It is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose.

Generally, the present invention comprises a device and method for precision cutting of hair on a person's head, comprising the steps of sectioning of a layer of hair, by, for example, separation and lifting of a selected portion of hair from the remaining hair or head; untangling and/or combing of the sectioned hair until a selected cutting length is reached; and locking of the hair at the selected cutting length. In one embodiment, the hair may be untangled and/or combed prior to sectioning and/or separating and lifting of a selected portion of hair from the remaining hair or head. Once the hair is locked it may be manipulated with one hand and requires no position re-orienting in the user's hand. A separate cutting, clipping or trimming device, held by the other hand, as is the common procedure, is thereafter used for the cutting, clipping or trimming to the desired length.

In one embodiment, two generally long combs are used. These can be used simultaneously in right or left hand for detangling or combing and sectioning. They can be combined, creating a single unit which can be used with one hand for combing and locking of the hair into a selected position. Thus, the other hand is free to work on or style the locked section of hair (e.g. by cutting, applying hair product, or the like). One particular advantage of the aforementioned device and method is that it allows the hairdresser to section, lock and pull a much larger section of hair than the traditional method using an ordinary comb and fingers.

With specific reference to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 are lateral and end views, respectively, of one embodiment of a comb member 10 constructed according to the present invention. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the comb member 10 comprises a handle gripping section 13 for the hand and a teeth section 12 with combing teeth 11 extending from a base 14. In one embodiment, handle 13 may have an opening or slot 16 to accommodate, for example, a post, hook, or other hanging device for storage when not in use. In another variation, comb 10 may have an eye hook 18 adjacent the end of the handle to facilitate hanging the comb on a hook or other storing or hanging means.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, each comb member 10 is configured and dimensioned to be interlockable with a respective second comb member 20. In a preferred embodiment, second comb member 20 is substantially similar to first comb member 10 in all respects. In operation, comb members 10 and 20 of the device may be used in tandem to untangle or comb the sectioned hair to the selected cutting length, with the hair then being clamped or locked into such length, preferably by a combination of the comb members. The user's fingers are used only for manipulation of the combined device and not in conjunction with any hair manipulation or clamping. In this regard, the comb members are configured and dimensioned to interlock or engage with one another, preferably with interlocking of respective combing teeth sections 11, 21 to lock the sectioned hair at a preselected position. In this regard, the user may lock the section of hair into position through a simple increase in clamping pressure exerted through the handle sections. In one aspect of the invention, when comb members 10, 20 are in the interlocked position, the comb teeth sections 11, 21 of each of the comb members should substantially adjacently overlap each other and preferably should also interfit with one another to provide an extensive interface to lock the sectioned hair therebetween and prevent skewing of the teeth sections from alignment with each other during use.

For ease of use and to minimize fatigue, the overall length of each of the comb devices is preferably between about 13 to about 16 inches (33 to 41 cm) and the weight is about 2.6 ounces (74 gm). Accordingly, it is preferred that the device be made of a strong lightweight metal such as aluminum and more economically of a molded plastic material such as ABS, Lexan or nylon. In one embodiment, each comb has about 6 to 9 teeth per inch, although in alternate embodiments a greater or lesser amount may be utilized for finer hair or coarser hair.

Referring now to FIGS. 5-8, the method of the present invention of sectioning, detangling or combing and locking for cutting is shown. In FIGS. 5-8, hairstyling device 1 is shown in use adjacent head 30. First comb member 10 and a second comb member 20 attachable by an interlocking connection. The comb members 10 and 20 each have gripping portions or handles 13 and 23 respectively, which facilitate the manipulation of the corresponding comb member teeth 11 and 21 into interlocking engagement. In a first position, shown in FIG. 5, the comb members 10 and 20 are held in a position parallel to head 30 and the teeth 11 and 21 are separated. The free end of first comb member 10 is inserted beneath a section of hair 31 which is then loosely held on the teeth section 11. The flattened shape of the comb members 10, 20 facilitates insertion beneath any thickness of hair layers including thin layers of hair for precision layered cutting. The sectioned hair 31 is then lifted by comb member 10 away from the remaining hair 33 or the head and into engagement with the comb member teeth 11 as shown in FIG. 5 and detangled or combed in a direction away from head 30. The free end of second comb member 20 may then be inserted beneath the section of hair 31 adjacent head 30 and the section of hair 31 is combed by second comb member 20 and detangled or combed in a direction away from head 30. This detangling or combing procedure of rotating or relaying combing between the first and second comb members 10, 20 may be repeated as desired by the hairstylist. In another embodiment of a method according to the invention, a further step of combing may be performed wherein comb members 10, 20 are moved simultaneously in a direction away from head 30, as shown in FIG. 6, until the desired length of section 31 is obtained. Once the desired length of section 31 is obtained, the teeth 11 and 21, of comb members 10, 20 are drawn together, as shown in FIG. 7, with the sectioned hair 31 being compressed and locked therebetween. The teeth 11 of first comb member 10 extend downwardly toward the teeth 21 of the second comb member 20, with the teeth 11, 21 being movable towards and away from each other by manual manipulation.

Each comb teeth section 13, 23 is adapted to engage and comb the sectioned hair until a precise length for cutting is selected. At this point, with the hair still engaged with the combing teeth of first comb 10, the teeth 11, 21 of the first and second combs are manually brought together to lock the hair 31, at the selected length, for cutting by a scissors, trimmer or clipper held by the other hand. In one embodiment, the layer of hair is locked into a position and it extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the head for facilitated cutting. In another embodiment, the interlocked unit extends at an angle with respect to the sectioned layer of hair for facilitated cutting of the layer of hair at an angle to accommodate different haircut shapes. When cutting is completed, the comb members 10, 20 are manually moved apart, for further sectioning, combing, locking and cutting until the hairstyling is completed.

In another embodiment of the invention, when comb members 10, 20 are in the interlocked position, the comb teeth sections 11, 21 of each of the comb members should substantially adjacently overlap each other and preferably should also interfit with one another to provide an extensive interface to lock the sectioned hair therebetween and prevent skewing of the teeth sections from alignment with each other during use.

The steps shown in FIGS. 5-8 are repeated until the hair styling cutting is completed.

The method and device facilitates precision control, sectioning and locking into position of the hair; this through two handed combing, and one handed locking. One skilled in the art will appreciate that untangling is rendered more efficient through the use of two combs simultaneously—one held in each hand, and also by the length of the combs. Furthermore, sectioning and locking is simplified and made more effective by the capacity of the combs to hold hair in place when assembled into a single unit. In addition, the advantage of increased combing and disentangling capacity is realized as the comb member design permits the simple locking together into one unit. In this regard, a larger prepared section of hair may be prepared for the cutting stage, as compared, for instance, with the “comb and finger” technique.

While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments and applications thereof, numerous modifications and variations can be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. 

1. A method for precision cutting of hair on a person's head comprising the steps of: sectioning a layer of hair by separating and lifting it away from the head; combing the sectioned layer of hair with first and second comb members, wherein the first and second comb members are independently manipulatable; locking the sectioned layer of hair at a selected cutting length by combining the first and second comb members into an interlocked unit; and cutting the layer of hair at the selected cutting length; wherein the interlocked unit is manipulatable with one hand without position re-orientation of the unit in the hand to effect the cutting.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein when the layer of hair is locked into a position thereby it extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the head for facilitated cutting.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the interlocked unit extends at an angle with respect to the sectioned layer of hair for facilitated cutting of the layer of hair at an angle to accommodate different haircut shapes.
 4. A hairstyling device for precision cutting of hair on a person's head, comprising: first and second comb members, the first and second comb members are positionable in a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein in the first configuration the first and second comb members are separate and independently manipulatable for sectioning and combing of the hair; and wherein in the second configuration the first and second comb members are connected to lock a portion of the hair in place, and wherein in the second configuration the connected comb members are manipulatable with one hand without position re-orientation of the hairstyling device in the hand.
 5. The hairstyling device of claim 4, wherein each comb member comprises a gripping section and a teeth section, with the teeth section having teeth and a base from which the teeth extend.
 6. The hairstyling device of claim 5, wherein in the second configuration the teeth of the first and second comb members are in adjacent juxtaposition to lock a portion of the hair.
 7. The hairstyling device of claim 6, wherein in the second configuration an first and second comb members are manipulatable by finger pressure to lock the portion of hair in place.
 7. The hairstyling device of claim 5, wherein the gripping sections of each of the comb members defines an opening extending therethrough.
 8. The hairstyling device of claim 5, wherein each of said gripping sections comprises at least one eyelet.
 9. The hairstyling device of claim 4, wherein the hairstyling device is comprised of a plastic material. 